The Darley Moor Motor Cycle Road Race Club have been busy preparing the Sports Centre for the second half of the season, with Rounds 9 and 10 due to take place on Sunday 9th August 2026, at the circuit, near Ashbourne, DE6 2ET (or What3words: bounty.behalf.charm).
The Club are delighted to see that all the current championship leaders and, in fact, the majority of the top three places of all championships have already sent their entries in. Heading the list of entries are Matt Bell (Sheffield), Ant Porter (Chesterfield) and Jonathan Trezins (Wisbech), who lead 2 championships each.
Bell is the leader of both the Open Solo and Ben Godfrey Trophy classes, but Mark Goodings (Doncaster) will be aiming to close the gap in both, currently sitting 2nd in both classes, trailing Bell by 34points in the Open Solo class, but just 12points split them in the Ben Godfrey Trophy. Stephen Parsons (Carnforth) is currently 3rd in the Ben Godfrey Trophy, 41points behind and 4th in the Open Solo class, 56points behind.
Porter leads the Lightweight and Wilson Trophy Championships and his nearest challengers this weekend will come from Steve Price (Stockport) and Freddy Oakley (Chesterfield); Price has a 24point gap, whilst Oakley a 44point deficit to Porter, in the Lightweight class and Oakley, currently 2nd in the Wilson Trophy, 32points adrift of Porter.
Whilst Trezins leads both the Golden Supersport 600 and Darley Cup classes, but likely to come under more pressure in the Golden Supersport class, holding just a 10point advantage over Ben Dale (Warrington) and 36points over Martyn Cooper (Stoke on Trent), his closest challengers. In the Darley Cup, there is 32points separating the top two places, with David Carson (Northwich) currently 2nd with Paul Evans (Awsworth), 3rd 49points and Cooper, 55points back in 4th place.
However, Carson leads the Super Twins class by 27points, from Russell Dodds (Bedale), 2nd and Evans, again, in 3rd spot, but just a further 8points behind.
Dale is also, currently 2nd in the Open 600 class, this time requiring an additional 46points before he gets on terms with leader, Ricky Tarren (Swadlincote). Tarren will also be amongst the action in the Ben Godfrey Trophy, currently in 4th place, 50points adrift of leader Bell.
On track at the same time as the Super Twins, Mini Twins leader, Anthony Thane (Stoke on Trent) enjoys a 28point lead over Liam Clements (Stafford). Clements is likely to feature in any battle at the head of the field in the last solo Championship, the Honda CB500/Suzuki Bandit 600 Championship, currently 4th, 68points behind leader Richard Hughes (Wolverhampton), Shane Watson (Sutton in Ashfield), 2nd, 50points adrift, with Zac Leigh (Middlewich), 3rd, 57points back.
The top four pairings in the Formula 600 sidecar championship will all be on the grid next weekend; leaders Mark & Amelie Berry (Bolton), hold a 12point advantage over Richard Butler/Andrew Miller (Leicester/Leamington Spa), in 2nd, then a further 37points behind them are Lee & Max Eastell (Thetford), 3rd, with Bill & Nick Roberts (Coventry), 4th. Lining up alongside these will be the Open Sidecar machines, with leaders Alan Molyneux/Courtney Anderson (Rufford/Houghton le Spring), currently 32points ahead of nearest challengers, Keith Waddington/Kyia Illman (Barnsley/Crewe), in 2nd , with 3rd place team of Anthony Eades/Ash Gibson (Hyde).
In addition to these championship challengers, 14year old Ollie Pearson (Derby), competing in the Lightweight and Wilson Trophy classes, will be returning to Darley Moor and should be interesting watching his progress over the weekend.
Whilst, the recent weather has been extremely hot, hopefully there will be a little respite to allow more comfortable conditions for competitors, spectators, marshals and officials alike.
As always, the action will begin at 1000hrs, with the start of Practice and first race scheduled to start at 11.30am. Advance tickets at are available now, just visit www.darleymoorstore.com.
Race days – Adults £18 (£15 in advance), Seniors £14 (£12 in advance)
Camping is now only available from 2pm Saturday, at £10 per night, through to 10am Monday morning.
The Chequered Flag Café, open to all, every weekend, but with longer hours on a race weekend (Friday 2pm – 8pm, Saturday 8am – 8pm, Sunday 8am – 6pm) and with its own set of very regular customers.
2026 Championship (after Round 8)
Wilson Trophy
1st Ant Porter, 92pts; 2nd Freddy Oakley, 60pts; 3rd Hudson Cooper, 60pts
Darley Cup
1st Jonathan Trezins, 105pts; 2nd David Carson, 73pts; Paul Evans, 56pts
Ben Godfrey Trophy
1st Matt Bell, 50pts; 2nd Mark Goodings, 79pts; 3rd Stephen Parsons, 50pts
Open 600cc
1st Ricky Tarren, 117pts; 2nd Benjamin Dale, 71pts; 3rd David Carson, 60pts
Open Solos
1st Matt Bell, 102pts; 2nd Mark Goodings, 68pts; 3rd Jordan Rushby, 46pts
Golden SuperSport 600
1st Jonathan Trezins, 100pts; 2nd Benjamin Dale, 90pts; 3rd Martyn Cooper, 64pts
Mini Twins & GP250
1st Anthony Thane, 105pts; 2nd Liam Clements, 77pts; 3rd Ewan West, 43pts
Super Twins
1st David Carson, 105pts; 2nd Paul Evans, 72pts; 3rd Russell Dodds, 70pts
Lightweight Class
1st Ant Porter, 108pts; 2nd Steve Price, 86pts; 3rd Freddy Oakley, 60pts
Honda CB500 & Suzuki Bandits
1st Richard Hughes, 108pts; 2nd Shane Watson, 58pts; 3rd Zac Leigh, 51pts
125cc Street Stock
1st Hudson Cooper, 60pts; 2nd Ollie Pearson, 48pts
Formula 600 Sidecars
1st Mark Berry/Amelia Berry, 90pts; 2nd Richard Butler/Derek Taylor, 78pts; 3rd Lee Eastell/Mark Eastell, 41pts
Open Sidecars
1st Alan Molyneaux/Courtney Anderson, 108pts; 2nd Keith Waddington/Kyia Illman, 76pts; 3rd Anthony Eades/Ash Gibson, 36pts
Report by Brian George
Photos by Tony Else Photography